Ice making apparatus



Jan- 22, 1963 J. R. TIPPMANN ETAL 3,074,252

10E MAKING APPARATUS Filed July 1o, 1959 Fgga.

United States Patent O 3,074,252 ICE MAKING APPARATUS Joseph R. Tippmann, Lawrence E. Tippmann, and Lawrence E. Tippmann, Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors t Chicago Stock Yards Turbo Refrigerating Company,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 10, 1959, Ser. No. 826,254' 9 Claims. (Cl. 62347) The present invention relates to ice-making apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus useful in making efficiently ice in sheet form.

Ice-making apparatus of the type which the present invention is concerned includes many different alternative designs which may be characterized according to basic lconstruction as being plate i-ce, cylindrical ice and tubular ice apparatus, each of these apparatuses utilizing freezing elements of suitable geometrical design upon which the ice is frozen.

The present invention relates more particularly to, a plate ice machine which is capable of producing ice in given quantities more efficiently and at less cost than `prior apparatuses. Also, the present invention is. `directed toward the provision of apparatus which is simpler in design, economical in operation, and utilizes fewer moving parts.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide mechanism for use in ice-making apparatus, which is relatively simple in construction, ecient in operation and reliable vfor long term usage.

It is another object of this invention to provide, in an ice-making apparatus, means for flowing water over freezing elements, this means requiring no line pressure to obtain the flow.

It is another object of this invention to harvest the ice by use of relatively warm water, which water is cooled during harvesting and thereafter used in making ice on the next succeeding freezing cycle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a water-collecting assembly -which functions to maintain slush formed during the yfreezing cycle from interfering with the proper operation of the apparatus.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention may be embodied-in. the forms illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that specific change may be 4made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is -a sectional illustration taken substantially 5 along section line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the freezing element used in the preceding figures; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a baffle plate illustrated in section in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises a friame,rgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10, formed of suitable angle iron to support the various pieces of the apparatus in proper position with respect to each other. On this frame are mounted, by two suitable frame uprights 12, a pair of identical `freezing plates 114, these plates being parallel and vertically aligned as shown. The outer surfaces 16 of these respective plates 14 are flat and vertical and .are in thermally conductive contact with pipes or passages 18 which carry and circulate the cooling refrigerant through the plates i4. Preferably, these plates or elements 14 are constructed of metal.

Along the upper marginal edges of the two plates 14 are secured two deflector plates 20 inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other and extending from the respective freezing surfaces 16 4as shown in FIG. 2. It should be stated at this point that the upper edges of the freezing plates 14 are horizontal and that the deflector plates 20 extend coextensively horizontally with these edges. These plates 2G may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the plates 14 in such a manner that water dropping onto the plates will flow downwardly onto the freezing surfaces I16.

Supported on the frame 10` immediately above the de'ector plates 2G is a distributor pan 22 having upstanding sides and a bottom 24. ri`his pan preferably is of shallow construction and in length is coextensive with the horizontal dimension of the deector plates. In the bottom 24 are provided a series of horizontally spaced drain holes 26 in registry with the two ydeector plates 2i?, there being an adequate number of holes for producing a relatively even flow of water from the pan 22 over the entire exposed surface of the two plates 20 and also the freezing surfaces 16 of the plates 114. In a working embodiment of this invention, these holes may have a diameter of one-quarter (1/4) inch.

Immediately beneath the pan 22 and suitably supported between `the two deflector plates 20 is a distributor pipe 28 which extends horizontally and parallel to the plates. This pipe is provided with a series of jet apertures 30 along the length thereof between the horizontal extremities of the plates 20, there being two axially aligned series of these apertures 30, one series being directed toward theleft-hand deflector 20 and the other series being directed toward the right-hand dellector 20 as viewed in FIG. 2. Means is provided for connecting the left-hand end (fFIG. l) of this pipe 28 to a suitable source of'ambient temperature water, this temperature in -a working embodiment of this invention usually lying in the range of from 50 to 75 Fahrenheit. The righthand end 32 of this pipe 28 is closed. Water introduced into the left-hand end of the pipe flows out of the jet `apertures and onto the respective deflector plates 20 and downwardly over .the back sides 34 of the freezing plates. 14.

Along the lower horizontally extending edges 36 of vthe respective freezing plates 14 are secured two `drain .surfaces 16 of the respective freezing elements.

Supported on the frame 10 immediately beneath the lower extremities of `the drain plates 38 is a trough 44)` .having upstanding sides :and a flat bottom. As viewed in FIG. 1, the right-hand end ofthe trough is closed while vthe left-hand end 42 is open. The trough is inclined slightly so yas to ydrain liquid-toward Ithe left as viewed in FIG. 1, the left-hand end of the trough extending slightly beyond the left-hand edges of the ltwoplates 318i and the freezing elements 14.

Beneath the discharge end 42 of the trough 40 is supported by means of the iame 10 a water-collecting assembly which includes `a main tank 44 and an auxiliary tank 46. Both of these tanks 44 and 46 have flat bottoms and upstanding sides, the tank 46- being smaller rthan the tank 44 and supported inside the latter in an elevated positionby means of a suitable frame piece 48` and, for example, an overflow pipe 50. The tank 44 :is made relatively deep so 'that when itis lled with water, any slush (ice) in the water will float near 'the top, leaving slushfree water adjacent the bottom thereof.

The tank 46 is positioned immediately beneath the discharge end 42 of the 'trough 40 so as to receive all of the contents which flow from the trough 40. The bottom 52 of the tank 46 is provided with a series of relatively small apertures 54 through which water may drain into the larger tank 44. The overllow pipe 50 stands upright and passes through the bottoms of both tanks 44 and 46. The upper end S6 of the pipe 50 is disposed adjacent but below the upper edges of both tanks Overllow water spilling into Vthe tank 46 flows out of the overflow pipe 50 before it has la chance 'to pass into the larger tank 44 through the openings 54. This tends to prevent warm overow water from becoming mixed with water in the tank 44.

ln the bottom 58 of the tank 44 is 1an outlet 6U having a connection to a water pump 63l which pumps the Water from the tank 44 upwardly -into the distributor pan 22 as diagramrn'atically illustrated in FIG. 2. Over the outlet 60 is positioned a flat baffle plate 62 (see FIG. 4) having corners 64 bent downwardly to provide legs. The plate 62 and fthe bottom 58 thereby cooperate to draw water from the lower lateral portions of Athe tank 44 instead of drawing surface water downwardly directly into the outlet 6i). 'Ihe importance lof this feature will be explained more fully hereinafter.

In operation, the pan 44 is initially filled with water to a suitable level. The refrigerating system (not shown) is started in operation to cool the plates 14 to a temperature below that at which water freezes. Simultaneously, the water pump 62 is energized, forcing water from the tank 44 upwardly :and -into the distributor pan 22. This water flows downwardly through the drain holes 26 onto the dellector plates 20, and from these plates it ows downwardly over the entire freezing surfaces 16 of the two freezing elements 14. Because of surface adhesion, the water will adhere to the surfaces 16 and will llow inwardly Aalong the drain plates I3S to drain into the trou@ 40. From the trough, the water drains into the auxiliary make-up tank 46, and from this tank it flows through the drain apertures 54 'and into the main tank 44 before repeating its ow cycle. As the freezing elements 14 cool down, 'the water flowing over the surfaces 16 will start -to freeze; however, this freezing action is not instantaneous but instead takes place relatively gradually and thus forms an ice-slush which does not adhere to the surfaces but instead flows downwardly into the trough 40. This slush interferes with the proper operation of the apparatus, for one thing serving to clog the water pump 63 and the drain apertures 26 in the distributor pan 22. Thus, it is desirable in order to maintain efficient and reliable performance of the apparatus to eliminate the deleterious effects of this slush and this is accomplished in a chain of events in this apparatus.

In the irst instance, the trough 40 is disposed at only a slight angle so that it is very nearly horizontal. This being true, slush tends to collect along the bottom of the trough. Any slush which ows out of the discharge end 42 of the trough next falls into the auxiliary make-up tank 46. Since the slush lloats in water, the slush will tend to remain iin the top of the tank 46 while only water drains through fthe apertures '54. The water which is collected by the tank 44 is rtherefore relatively free from slush. However, if some slush should pass through the apertures 54, it will oat to the top of the water in the tank 44. By reason of ithe presence of the baffle 62 which draws w-ater from the bottom only of the tank 44, the -lloating slush will not be sucked downwardly and into the water pump 62. All -of these features cooperate to provide a circulating, walter system which 'is relatively free from .the deleterious effects of slush.

If, in fact, particles of slush should happen to be pumped back up into the pan 22, this slush will have no particular deleterious effect on the functioning of the apparatus inasmuch as it usually can produce only partial clogging of the apertures 26, thereby only reducing the quantity of water drained through the aperture. The water which does drain through still drops on the defleotor plates 20.

Prior devices `which utilized distributor pipes for flowing water onto the freezing surfaces of the plates 14 could not function Ito maintain a ow of water onto the freezing surfaces if one or m-ore of the jet apertures became either fully or only partially clogged. 'I'he pan distributor 22, however, insures that whatever water does drain from the pan will always fall onto the plates 26 land flow over the freezing surfaces 16.

This Water cycle is continued for a sufficient period of time until a lilm of ice builds to a suitable thicknesss on the freezing elements 14. Following this, the ice is harvested; this is accomplished by first stopping the refrigerating system and the circulating pump 63 and thereafter warming lthe plates 14 so as to release the ice sheets therefrom. This warming of the plates is accomplished by means of the llow of water over the back sides 34 from the distributor pipe 28, water at ordinary, ambient temperatures being used for this purpose. Of course, it is necessary that this water be at temperatures above freezing. The water llows downwardly over the back sides 34 of the freezing elements 14, drains into the trough 40, the auxiliary make-up tank 46 and into the main tank 44. This action is continued until the ice bond is melted sufficiently for the sheet to drop off the respective surface 16.

Of importance in the harvesting operation is the fact that the water which is initially flowed over the back sides 34 is cooled considerably by the time it leaves the bottom edges of the elements 14. Since it is this same water which is used to form the ice in the next freezing cycle, it is of course desirable to maintain this cool temperature in the water. This is accomplished by the use of the two tanks 44 and 46 in the respect that a certain quantity of water is used in lthe formation of the ice which lowers the level of the water available in the main tank 44. The original harvesting water which is cooled down flows into the auxiliary tank 46 and from there into the main tank 44. Thus, the level in the tank 44 rises, this water being relatively cool. However, near the end of the harvesting cycle, as the plates 14 warm up, the water leaves the lower edges of the plates 14 at about the same temperature as exists in the distributor 28. Since this water would warm up the cool water in tank 44, it is of course desired to prevent any mixing of this warm water with the cool water. This is accomplished by means of the auxiliary tank 46 and the overow pipe 50, the tanks bein'g of such size that near` the end of `the harvesting cycle the water in the tanks Will rise to about the level of the overflow mouth 56. Thus, the warmer water flowing off the plates 14 near the end of the harvesting cycle merely flows from the tank 46 out of the overflow pipe 50 before it has a chance to mix with the cooler water in the tank 44. By this means, greater e'iciency in operation is achieved.

Considering for the moment the use of the open distributor pan 22, and comparing lthe use of this pan with prior art machines which utilized pressure-distributing pipes to spray water onto the freezing surfaces of the freezing plates |14, it is important to note that the use of this pan leads .to greater efficiency in operation. For example, water sprayed onto the freezing surfaces of the freezing elements splashes, some of the splashed water falling free of the freezing surfaces. This being true, a. certain quantity of water is lost. This loss represents an expense, especially in the instance in which ice-making continues around the clock. The use of the pan avoids any loss of water, since no pressure is used for forcing the water onto the freezing surfaces. The water merely drains from the pan through the holes under no pressure which could cause splashing and loss of water.

Other -advantages residing in the use of the pan distributor over a pipe distributor will occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. In an ice-making apparatus, two upright substantially rectangular planar freezing elements supported in spaced parallel relation, said elements having on 'che remote sides thereof relatively flat freezing surfaces, two deector plates secured to the upper horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said plates extending from the respective freezing sur-faces and being inclined upwardly and toward each other, a distributor pan having upstanding sides and a horizontally extending bottom, said pan being disposed immediately above said plates and having a series of drain openings therein in registry with said inclined plates, a distributor pipe supported between said inclined plates and having a plurality of spaced orifices directed to spray water onto andalong the upper edges of the facing sides of said elements/two drain plates secured to the lower horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said drain plates extending from the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined downwardly and toward each other, an inclined trough supported beneath said drain plates to receive water which drains therefrom, a water-collecting tank assembly supported beneath said trough to receive the which drains from said trough, said assembly comprising two tanks supported one inside the other, 4both tanks having upstanding sides'and bottoms respectively, said one tank having a plurality of drain apertures in the bottom thereof, an lupstanding overow pipe having an open end disposed inside said one tank, an outlet in the bottom of said other tank, a baille plate supported over and spaced immediately above said outlet, and a pumping mechanism connected between said outlet and said istributor pan for pumping water from said second tank to said distributor pan.

2. In an ice-making apparatus, two upright substantially rectangular planar freezing elements supported in spaced parallel relation, said elements having on the remote sides thereof relatively at freezing surfaces, two deflector plates secured to the upper horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said plates extend ing from the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined upwardly and toward each other, a distributor pan having upstanding sides and a horizontally extending bottom, said pan being disposed immediately above said plates and having a series of drain openings therein in registry with said inclined plates, a distributor pipe supported between said inclined plates and having a plurality of spaced orifices directed to spray water onto and along the upper edges of the facing sides of said elements, two drain plates secured to the lower horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said drain plates extending from the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined downwardly and toward each other, an inclined trough supported beneath said drain plates to receive water which drains therefrom, a water-collecting tank assembly supported beneath said trough to receive the water which drains from said trough, said assembly comprising two tanks supported One inside the other, both tanks having upstanding sides and bottoms respectively, said one tank having a plurality of drain apertures in the bottom thereof, an upstanding overflow pipe having an open end disposed inside said one tank, and an outlet in the bottom of said other tank.

3. In an ice-making apparatus, two upright planar freezing elements supported in spaced parallel relation, said elements having on the remote sides thereof relatively flat freezing surfaces, two deflector plates secured to the upper horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said plates extending from the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined upwardly and toward each other, a distributor pan having upstanding sides and a horizontally extending bottom, said pan being disposed immediately above said plates and having a series of drain openings therein in registry with said inclined plates, two. drain plates secured to the lower horizontallyextending edges of said'elements respectively, vsaid drain plates extending from 'the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined downwardly and toward each other, an inclined trough supported beneath said drain plates'to receive water which drains therefrom, a water-collecting tankv assemblyv supported beneath said trough. to receive the water'which` drains from said trough, said assembly comprising two tanks supported one inside the other, both tanks having upstanding sides and bottoms respectively, said one tank having a plurality of drain yapertures in the bottom thereof, an upstanding overflow pipe having an open end disposed inside vsaid one tank, and an outlet in the bottom of said other tank.

4. In an ice-making apparatus,v two upright substantially rectangular planary freezing elements supported in spaced parallel relation, said elements having on the remote sides thereof relatively flat freezing surfaces, two deilector plates secured to the upper horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively, said plates extending from the respective freezing surfaces and being inclined upwardly and toward each other, a distributor Vpan having upstanding sides and a horizontally extending bottom, said pan being disposed immediatelyabove said plates and. having a series of drain openings therein in registry with said. inclined plates, a distributor pipe supported between said inclined plates and having a plurality .of spaced orifices directed to spray water onto and along the upper edges of the facing sides of said elements, two drain plates secured to the lower horizontally extending edges of said elements respectively said drain plates extending from the respective freezingsurfaces. and being inclined downwardly and toward each other, and tank means disposed beneath said drain plates for collecting water which drains oif said elements.

5. In an ice-making apparatus, an upstanding freezing element vhaving one flat vertically disposed freezing Vsurface, a deflector plate supported to extend from the upper portion of said element in an inclined direction away from said freezing surface, the upper surface of said plate terminating adjacent to the upper portion of said freezing surface, a distributor pan having a bottom supported above said plate, said bottom having holes in registry with said plate, a water-collecting assembly disposed below said element, means directing water from said element into said assembly, said assembly comprising two tanks supported one inside the other, both tanks having upstanding sides and bottoms respectively, said one tank having a plurality of drain apertures in the bottom thereof, an upstanding overow pipe having an open end disposed inside said one tank, an outlet in the bottom of said other tank, a baille plate supported over and spaced immediately above said outlet, and a pumping mechanism connected between said outlet and said distributor pan for pumping water from said second tank to said distributor pan.

6. In an ice-making apparatus, an upstanding freezing element having one flat vertically disposed freezing surface, a dellector plate supported to extend from the upper portion of said element in an inclined direction away from said freezing surface, the upper surface of said plate terminating adjacent to the upper portion of said freezing surface, a distributor pan having a bottom supported above said plate, said bottom having holes in registry with said plate, a water-collecting assembly disposed below said element, means directing water from said element into said assembly, said assembly comprising two tanks supported one inside the other, both tanks having upstanding sides and bottoms respectively, said one tank having a plurality of drain apertures in the bottom thereof, an upstanding overow pipe having an open end disposed inside said one tank, and an outlet in the bottom of said other tank.

7. In an ice-making apparatus, an upstanding freezing element lhaving one at vertically disposed freezing surface, said freezing surface having front and rear sides, a detlector plate supported to extend from thev upper portion of said element in an inclined direction away from the front side of said freezing surface, the upper surface of said plate terminating adjacent to the upper portion of said freezing surface, a distributor pipehaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, said pipe -being disposed adjacent to the rear side of said freezing surface with said apertures directed toward said rear side for spraying the same with relatively warm Water, a distributor pan having a bottom supported above said plate, said bottom having holes in registry with said plate, and means for collecting water drained from saidfreezing surface and delivering such collected water to said distributor pan.

8. In an ice-making apparatus, an upstanding freezing element having one at vertically disposed freezing surface, said freezing surface having front and rear sides, a dellector plate supported to extend from the upper portion of said element in an inclined `direction away from the front side of said freezing surface, the upper surface of said plate terminating adjacent to the upperportion of said freezing surface, a distributor pipe having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, said pipe being disposed adjacent to the rear side of lsaid freezing surface with said apertures directedtoward said rear side for spraying the same with relatively warm water, a water receptacle supported above said plate, means for distributing water from said receptacle onto the upper surface of said ,deilector'plata and means for collecting water drained from said freezing surface'and deliveringV such collected water to said distributor pan.

9. In an ice-making machine, a vertically disposed at metal plate having a freezing surfacevon the front face, means for applying water across the upper edge portion of the front face of the plate for ilow downwardly gravitationally across the freezing `surface, refrigeration means in heat exchange with the back side of the plate for refrigeration of the plate, the free water owing across the front face to build up an ice layer thereon, a collecting trough underlying the lower edge of the plate and olfset rearwardly from vertical alignment with the front face of the plate and a portion turned rearwardly from the lower edge of the plate and terminating in vertical alignment with the collecting trough whereby free water iowing downwardly across the front face of the plate follows the rearwardly turned portion for flow into the collecting trough while the ice layer released from the face of the plate fal-ls downwardly from the plate clear of the collecting trough, and means for projecting water at a temperature above freezing onto the back side of the plate for release of the ice layer collected on the front face thereof, and in which the collecting trough etxends rearwardly beyond the back side of the plate for collection of the water owing down the front side of the plate and the water which is projected onto the back side of the plate and is cooled during flow downwardly over the back side of the plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent Murdock Jan. 17, 

6. IN AN ICE-MAKING APPARATUS, AN UPSTANDING FREEZING ELEMENT HAVING ONE FLAT VERTICALLY DISPOSED FREEZING SURFACE, A DEFLECTOR PLATE SUPPORTED TO EXTEND FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ELEMENT IN AN INCLINED DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FREEZING SURFACE, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PLATE TERMINATING ADJACENT TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FREEZING SURFACE, A DISTRIBUTOR PAN HAVING A BOTTOM SUPPORTED ABOVE SAID PLATE, SAID BOTTOM HAVING HOLES IN REGISTRY WITH SAID PLATE, A WATER-COLLECTING ASSEMBLY DISPOSED BELOW 